Iraq to close borders with Syria, Iran

Iraq  The Iraqi commander of the Baghdad security crackdown announced Tuesday that Iraq will close its borders with Syria and Iran for 72 hours as part of the drive to end violence that has threatened to divide the capital along sectarian lines.

Addressing the nation on behalf of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, Lt. Gen. Abboud Gambar also said Baghdad's nighttime curfew would be expanded by an hour and that permits allowing civilians to carry weapons in public would be suspended during all of the operation, which he suggested could last weeks.

The general did not say when the borders would close, but another official said it was expected within two days. The official added that the borders would only partly reopen after the 72-hour closing.